Kabul: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
described as "very good" her two-day visit to Pakistan ahead
of her arrival for an international conference in Afghan
capital Kabul.

"All in all (it was) a very good visit," she told
journalists during the short flight between Islamabad and
Kabul.

Clinton today announced aid projects for Pakistan worth
almost USD 500 million and focused on water and energy needs.

They were part of US efforts to deepen engagement with
the Asian nuclear power and overcome rife anti-Americanism
after years of perceived neglect of bilateral relations.

Opening talks today with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood
Qureshi, Clinton hailed progress in bilateral ties and said
she hoped the aid projects would "lay the foundations for an
enduring partnership" with Pakistan.

They include two energy dams, various drinking water and
irrigation projects, as well as the building of health centres
and schemes to improve agriculture and private sector income.

They are part of a five-year USD 7.5-billion funding
approved by the US Congress last year.

Clinton concluded her visit with closed-door discussions
with Pakistan`s powerful army chief General Ashfaq Kayani on
what she termed "the best means of achieving peace and
stability" in Afghanistan.

Clinton said she and Kayani discussed Pakistan`s "request
for excess defence assets, something that we think makes a lot
of sense -- how we can better exchange intelligence".

"I understand the challenges they face," she added.
Clinton had earlier met Pakistan`s prime minister and
president and in a media interview acknowledged greater joint
efforts on terrorism, but called for "additional measures"
from Islamabad to combat militants on its soil.